Another Delay in Duchess Park Construction

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 07:47 PM

More delays noted in starting construction of the new Duchess Park School (photo opinion 250 archives)

Trustees with School District 57 expressed some frustration with yet another delay in the start of construction on the new Duchess Park High school in Prince George.

A new requirement for Provincial projects over $20 million dollars, calls for a submission to be reviewed to see if there is any possibility of a public-private partnership that might help pay for the project.

While School District 57 staff don't think this project is the type to fall within that framework, the submission had to be made, and it is not clear just when that review will be complete. Staff member Brian Mix says it means this construction year is lost, and the earliest the construction could be started is 2008.

Mix also advised the Board the Province may require the project to be split into a design-build scenario, where the Board hands over the design, and a contractor then takes over. Trustee Bill Christie voiced his concerns "I am not really in favour of having someone else tell us what kind of school we want. This Board is elected publicly to conduct this business." Trustee Lois Boone said she thought this was another example of the erosion of the local Board's autonomy.

Christie reminded the Board this project has been in the works since 2002, and it has already faced delays because of the heritage issue, then there was the size issue ( the province wanted a school for 650, the Board wanted 900), and now another hurdle has to be jumped.

Board Chair Lynn Hall worries the extra delays will translate into higher costs "This is a $25 million dollar project and construction costs are escalating weekly."

The Board is committed to funding a little more than $5 million dollars of this construction. In an effort to find those funds, the Board also approved the sale of two properties that were part of the Lakewood Elementary grounds. The Board has already sold the school building, the excess property is now to be offered for sale. Appraisals have indicated the properties have "significant value".

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Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 07:47 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Runner46 on May 1 2007 8:17 PM

Bloody red tape. there to save us tax dollars but it is also giving it away.

Posted by: Gofaster on May 1 2007 8:54 PM

And so what else is new....
this is so typical I am surprised people are still surprised.

Posted by: owl on May 2 2007 2:09 AM

"Christie reminded the Board this project has been in the works since 2002, and it has already faced delays because of the heritage issue"

?????? and where exactly was that delay? I do not recall reading anywhere, until now that there was a delay due to that.

I do recall tht Mr. Christie was bringing forward ideas that they could build a PAC attached to the school. I do not think that was supported by the Board.

I also recall that the two buildings were to be demolished in a much shorter time period from start to finish than they were.

I think none of those issues were actually cause for delay.

The cause for delay is simply that the MoE does not wish to fund the school in a timely fashion.

It is not as if there is no school there. There are many other communities in BC that have schools as old as and older than that school who are not getting a new school in the near future. The need to upgrade the school in order to accommodate the possibility of earthquake is gone. PG has been reassessed and is in a less risky situation. Schools in other parts of the province have not. I assume they get priority for that very simple reason.

I am sort of looking forward for the new school to be run by the Oblate Brothers in a PPP.

Then again, maybe Jimmy Pattison will want to get involved and teach advertising billboards 101, 102, 103 and 104 in return.......

Posted by: owl on May 2 2007 2:11 AM

I think BC should put the parliament buildings up for sale and build a modern version in a PPP.

Posted by: owl on May 2 2007 2:12 AM

And, of course, the provincial museum as well .....

Posted by: owl on May 2 2007 2:13 AM

Perhaps Canfor would like to rebuild their pulp mills in a PPP ......

If it is so great, it should work both ways.

Posted by: acrider54 on May 2 2007 5:58 AM

Well the government has to cut costs and lay more on the taxpayer so they can give themselves a whopping raise.